Combined speed detection, video and timing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A combination speed-detection, video-recording, and timing device that can be hand-held. The device contains one or more speed detection means, including, but not limited to, a radar detection or laser detection device. The device includes a camera able to capture video in digital form, and a timing device, similar in function to a stopwatch. The device is pointed at the object whose speed is to be measured, or the events to be recorded, and can be operated by means of a trigger on a handle. The device may further include a display, along with display controls. Storage means is used to store the speed, video and timer data. The device may contain its own power-supply, or may be externally powered.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/743,970, filed May 3, 2007, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,446,467,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/746,572, filed May 5, 2006, by Scott Tilton, et al., and is entitledin whole or in part to those filing dates for priority. The completespecification, drawings, and disclosure of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/746,572 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/743,970 are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to speed-detection devices. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an apparatus that can capture thespeed of a moving object while simultaneously recording a video of theobject or events involving the object, and timing certain eventsinvolving the object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various devices to detect the speed of moving objects, such as radarguns or laser speed detectors, are well-known. Such devices are used fora variety of purposes. A common use is by law enforcement agencies andpersonnel to monitor traffic and identify vehicles that are going fasterthan posted speed limits. It also has been increasingly common tocapture images of said vehicles and use the images to enhanceenforcement activities.

The design and operation of a speed detection system that uses a camerato capture still images may be found in Poland, et al., U.S. Pat. No.6,681,195, entitled “Compact Speed Measurement System With OnsiteDigital Image Capture, Processing, and Portable Display,” which isincorporated herein by specific reference. Poland describes amulti-component system comprising a laser speed detector mounted on atripod or in a bracket of a vehicle next to a digital camera, whichtakes digital images of the vehicle at the same time the speed isdetected. The digital data is stored on a separate, portable fieldprocessor (e.g., a palmtop computer or personal digital assistant).However, the device is not easily held or used by a single individual,does not take a video of the vehicle, and requires a number of separatecomponents.

Accordingly, what is needed is a light-weight, hand-held device that canbe used to simultaneously record and store a video of an object whilemeasuring its speed, further including a timer mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a combination speed-detection andvideo-recording device. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventioncomprises a barrel with a handle. The handle may be permanently orremovably attached to the barrel. The invention may be hand-held, ormounted on a tripod or fixed platform.

The device contains speed detection means, including but not limited to,a radar detection or laser detection device. In one exemplaryembodiment, multiple speed detection means can be included together.Means for switching between the two devices can be provided, or saiddevices can be used simultaneously to provide two or more speed readingsof the same object. A camera able to capture video of the object or anevent in digital form also is included. In one exemplary embodiment, theinvention further comprises a timing device, similar in function to astopwatch that can be used for precise timing of events being recorded.

In operation, the front end of the barrel is pointed at the object whosespeed is to be measured, or the events to be recorded, while the backend of the barrel contains a display, along with display controls (e.g.,on/off buttons or switches, mode switch, and range control). The displayarea also may contain operation indicators or lights to indicate whenparticular modes or functions are in operation.

The display may be a monitor of any type known in the industry,including but not limited to an LCD or CRT monitor. The display can showa real time display of the video being captured by the camera. It canalso report the speed of the object, the elapsed time (when in stopwatchmode), and/or real clock time. The speed and time data can be shownseparately, but also may be shown as an overlay over the video. Realclock time data, in particular, may be particular helpful when the videois viewed or analyzed on a frame-by-frame basis.

Some controls may be located on the handle, such as the stop watchstart/stop function and stop watch reset function. A toggle switch forzooming the video in and out may also be located on the handle. Some orall of these controls may be located on the back of the handle, as shownin FIG. 1, or on the side. In some embodiments, some or all of thesecontrols, including the display controls, may be located on the barrel,the handle, or on a remote unit in wired or wireless communication withthe device. In one exemplary embodiment, a detachable handle mayfunction as a remote control unit.

One or more triggers may be located on the handle. When the trigger ispressed or triggered, the speed detection device records theinstantaneous speed, and the video camera begins recording. Separatetriggers may also be used for the speed detection and camera components.Alternatively, where a trigger has multiple control functions, thetrigger may have certain positions, so that partial depression causesthe video camera to begin recording, while full depression causes therecording of the speed, thus allowing video to be taken prior to thespeed detection device being triggered. Time data also may be recordedalong with the speed and/or video data.

Data, including speed data, time data, and camera image data (which mayinclude video data and still image data), may be stored on storagemeans. Storage means may be a fixed hard drive, CD, or memory deviceinside the invention, and/or some form of removable memory device, suchas a memory stick currently in use by digital cameras or a portablethumb or USB memory device that plugs into a USB port in the device.Communications ports, such as a USB jack, may be included in the deviceto allow data to be transferred to and from the device. Wirelesscommunications, such as communications using Bluetooth technology, mayalso be used.

In one exemplary embodiment, the device also includes a power supply.Power can be supplied by one or more batteries, which may be located inthe handle or elsewhere inside the device. The batteries may beremovable, or fixed and rechargeable. One or more power connectors orplugs may also be provided, such as on the bottom of the handle, so thatthe device may be plugged into and powered by (or the battery rechargedby) a normal AC receptacle, a cord plugged into a vehicle lighter, orthe like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of speed-detection device with a barreland handle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a back view of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As seen in FIGS. 1-2, in one exemplary embodiment the inventioncomprises a barrel 2 with a handle 4. The barrel 2 may be of any size orshape, but in one exemplary embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1, the inventionis designed to be hand-held by the user, using either one hand or twohands. The handle 4 for two-handed use may be longer than the handle 4for one-handed use. The handle may be a simple tube or polygon in shape,or may include areas shaped for the hand to grip.

In an alternative embodiment, the device may be mounted on a tripod orother fixed platform, such as the dashboard of a vehicle. In this latterconfiguration, the handle 4 may be detached, and the controls on thehandle 4 placed elsewhere, such as on the barrel 2 or on a remote unit,which the handle itself may function as.

The front of the barrel 2 contains speed detection means 20, including,but not limited to, a radar detection or laser detection device. In oneexemplary embodiment, multiple speed detection means 20 can be includedtogether, and means for switching between the two devices can beprovided, or said devices can be used simultaneously to provide two ormore speed readings of the same object. A camera 22 able to capturevideo in digital form also is in, or on, the front of the barrel. Theinvention further comprises a timing device 24, similar in function to astopwatch.

The front end 6 of the barrel 2 is pointed at the object whose speed isto be measured, or the events to be recorded, while the back end 8 ofthe barrel contains a display 10, along with display controls 12 (e.g.,on/off buttons or switches 30, mode switch 32, or range control 34). Theback end 8 also may contain operation indicators or lights 14 toindicate when particular modes or functions are in operation.

The display 10 can be a monitor of any type known in the industry,including but not limited to an LCD or CRT monitor. The display 10 canshow a real time display of the video being captured by the camera 22.It can also report the speed of the object, the elapsed time (when instopwatch mode), and/or real clock time. The speed and time data can beshown separately, but also may be shown as an overlay 25 over the video.Real clock time data 23, in particular, may be particular helpful whenthe video is viewed or analyzed on a frame-by-frame basis.

Some controls may be located on the handle 4, including the stop watchstart/stop function 40 and stop watch reset function 42. A toggle switchfor zooming the video in and out 44 may also be located on the handle.Some or all of these controls may be located on the back of the handle,as shown in FIG. 1, or on the side. Also, some or all of these controls,including the display controls, may be located on the barrel, or on aremote unit in wired or wireless communication with the device.

One or more triggers 48 may be located on the handle. When the trigger48 is pressed or triggered, the speed detection device records theinstantaneous speed, and the video camera begins recording. Separatetriggers may also be used. Alternatively, the trigger may have certainpositions, so that partial depression causes the video camera to beginrecording, while full depression causes the recording of the speed, thusallowing video to be taken prior to the speed detection device beingtriggered. Time data also may be recorded along with the speed and/orvideo data.

Data, including speed data, time data, and camera image data (which mayinclude video data and still image data), may be stored on storage means50. Storage means may be a fixed hard drive, CD, or memory device insidethe invention, and/or some form of removable memory device, such as amemory stick currently in use by digital cameras or a portable thumb orUSB memory device that plugs into a USB port in the device.Communications ports, such as a USB jack 52, may be included in thedevice to allow data to be transferred to and from the device. Wirelesscommunications, such as communications using Bluetooth technology, mayalso be used.

The device also includes a power supply. Power can be supplied by one ormore batteries 60, which may be located in the handle or elsewhereinside the device. The batteries may be removable, or fixed andrechargeable. One or more power connectors or plugs may also beprovided, such as on the bottom of the handle, so that the device may beplugged into and powered by (or the battery recharged by) a normal ACreceptacle, cord plugged into a vehicle lighter, or the like.

The device may be used in a variety of settings. In the sportsenvironment, such as baseball, football, or softball, the speed withwhich a ball is thrown can be directly measured and shown. The throwingevent, as well as related events, such as a catcher catching a pitch andthrowing the ball to second plate, can be recorded on video, and timed,either as a discrete event using the stop watch function and mode, or byanalyzing the real time data associated with relevant frames of thevideo. Scouting and recruiting will become more efficient when providingmore accurate and detailed information on athletes and theirperformances.

Similarly, the device may be used by law enforcement to detect speedingoffenders with more detailed documentation and information than is nowavailable in a single hand-held device. Offenders would have a moredifficult time contesting speeding violations because actual real-timevideo data would be recorded, along with speed data. Speed data couldinclude not only the radar or laser readings, but also the speedcalculated based on the real time data associated with relevant framesof the video (e.g., the time it takes for the vehicle in the video tomove between two objects or marks a known distance apart). Jurisdictionsaround the country could recognize a considerable increase in revenueswith less court time.

In one exemplary embodiment, the device casing may be waterproof orwater-resistant, and thus suitable for all-weather use. In anotherexemplary embodiment, some or all of the data can be saved in aprotected or encrypted format, so the video and/or speed data cannot besubsequently altered or modified (or such alterations or modificationscould be easily detected).

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples havebeen chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles ofthe invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited for theparticular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of thisinvention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive.There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention bedefined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for sports training, comprising: a barrel witha front and back, wherein the front of the barrel is pointed at a balltraveling at a speed; a first speed-detection assembly mounted in or onsaid barrel, wherein said first speed-detection assembly is adapted tomeasure the speed of the ball; a first video-camera assembly mounted inor on said barrel, wherein said first video-camera assembly is adaptedto record video images of the ball; a first stop-watch timer disposed inor on said barrel, with stop-watch start, stop and reset functionsoperable through stop-watch controls; and a display mounted in or on theback of said barrel to display video images, speed data from the firstspeed-detection assembly, or data from the first stop-watch timer, or acombination thereof.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: ahandle attached to the barrel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein thehandle is permanently attached to the barrel.
 4. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the handle is removably attached to the barrel.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second speed-detectionassembly mounted in or on said barrel, wherein said secondspeed-detection assembly is adapted to measure the speed of the sameball as the first speed-detection assembly.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first speed-detection assembly is radar-based orlaser-based.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the secondspeed-detection assembly is radar-based or laser-based, and is not thesame basis as the first speed-detection assembly.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the video image data is digital.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising display controls located near or adjacent tothe display.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said displaycomprises an LCD or CRT monitor.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a data storage device, disc or drive.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a power supply.
 13. The apparatus of claim2, further comprising a trigger on the handle, wherein said trigger isused to control the operation of both the first speed-detection assemblyand the first video-camera assembly.
 14. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the apparatus is adapted to be hand-held.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising one or more operational controls adapted tocontrol the operation of the speed-detection assembly, video-cameraassembly, or stop-watch timer, or a combination thereof
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein one or more of said operational controlsare located on a remote control unit in wired or wireless communicationwith the apparatus.
 17. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising afirst trigger on the handle, said first trigger used to control theoperation of the first speed-detection assembly, and a second trigger onthe handle, said second trigger used to control the operation of thefirst video-camera assembly.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a USB port in the barrel.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a Bluetooth communications device.
 20. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the video images or speed data, or both, areencrypted.